Making a TV show is a terrible grind — especially back in the day, when shows were entirely made up of standalone episodes. So it's no wonder that so many classic shows reached for the same handful of plots, over and over. Here are 12 storylines you'll find in every old science fiction and fantasy show. »3/27/15 1:46pm Friday 1:46pm

Have you ever heard a scream or sound effect in a movie that sounded strangely familiar? There's a good chance you weren't imagining things. Here are some of cinema's most iconic sounds – and where they originated. »3/23/15 3:00pm 3/23/15 3:00pm

One of the annoying things about real life is, you can only gain experience by getting older. You can't just luck into a trove of experience points and level up painlessly. Except on a lot of science fiction TV shows, there's a loophole. Here are seven episodes where someone lives for years, while no time passes. »2/20/15 8:00am 2/20/15 8:00am

The 1980s were the final decade of the Cold War — but nobody knew that at the time. The Soviet Union looked unstoppable, and few outside observers saw its collapse coming. So it's not surprising that lots of 1980s science fiction included Cold War futures. Here are 1980s visions of a future where the Cold War never… »2/13/15 12:38pm 2/13/15 12:38pm

With fictional worlds come fictional alcohol. But not just alcohol that's bad for you in the usual ways — bad for you in the "this will kill you if you drink it" kind of ways. These are drinks bartenders need hazmat suits to prepare and serve. »1/28/15 12:40am 1/28/15 12:40am

As you get ready for Marvel comics' mega-event this summer, it's worth remembering this isn't the first time Secret Wars has been waged. Back in 1984, a similarly "covert conflict" enveloped these heroes and villains. How much do you know about the first event that changed Marvel universe forever? »1/27/15 12:27pm 1/27/15 12:27pm

These days, product placement is an accepted part of science fiction. We're used to seeing big brands splashed all over every TV show and movie about aliens or the future. But it wasn't always this way. Here's the quick-and-very-dirty history of how on-screen advertising became a science fiction mainstay.»1/19/15 8:25am 1/19/15 8:25am

Some of the best TV shows were made for a song — but did you know that some of your favorite movies have featured ridiculously cheap scenery and props, as well? We're not just talking 1950s "B" movies, but more recent stuff. Here are some of the most wonderfully cheap sets and props from classic films. »1/16/15 1:16pm 1/16/15 1:16pm

Television has always been an expensive medium, with Lost having an estimated per-episode budget of $4 million, and Game of Thrones clocking in at a whopping $6 million. And sometimes, these hugely expensive shows fail. But here are 10 of the best science fiction and fantasy shows, which were made for surprisingly low…»1/13/15 1:32pm 1/13/15 1:32pm

Sometimes it seems like every villain is obsessed with murdering the hero of the story. (Or making the hero realize they're alike.) But it's not true — in fact, some of the best villains have their own goals, and the hero just happens to get in the way. Here are some great villains whose schemes don't revolve around… »12/16/14 8:00am 12/16/14 8:00am

Seriously, what's with everyone hating on brains? They're our most important organ (or, so they tell us), yet in just about every genre film, TV show, comic book or game, the sight of an oversized cranium or a levitating frontal lobe is a sure indicator of malicious intent. »10/15/14 12:49pm 10/15/14 12:49pm

Science fiction is full of stories in which extraterrestrials engineer life on Earth — it's one of the main ways we explain humanoid aliens, after all. But why would aliens want to create the human race? It seems to be a lot of trouble to go to. Here are the most outlandish reasons for aliens to put human beings here. »10/08/14 1:28pm 10/08/14 1:28pm

One of the most alluring dreams in science fiction is the post-scarcity society — a place or time where nobody goes without, because technology has improved. But when you dig deeper, most post-scarcity worlds still have some scarcity, because otherwise it's hard to tell a story about them. See for yourself! »9/30/14 12:23pm 9/30/14 12:23pm

Whenever anybody asks about black women in comics, the immediate response is to bring up Storm. But Storm isn't the only black woman to rock superpowers and a costume. Here are 20 other black female characters in superhero comics who deserve more love and attention. »9/12/14 11:35am 9/12/14 11:35am

You know what we really want from our "strong female characters" in pop culture? Not to be perfect human beings. Or to screw up and be sidelined. What we want is to see them do what all great characters do: make mistakes, and grow as a result. Here are a ton of female heroes whose mistakes made them great. »9/10/14 1:46pm 9/10/14 1:46pm

Sometimes it can be confusing to be a fan of pop culture. Sometimes writers leave halfway through a story, and a new writer has to wrap things up somehow. Sometimes a creator gets fired, and the replacement told to change gears in a hurry. Here are 20 stories that changed drastically when the writer left in the middle. »9/08/14 1:01pm 9/08/14 1:01pm

Even among other genre films, comic-book movies used to be viewed as disposable pulpy fun. But we've now reached the point where serious A-list actors are vying for roles in superhero films. And actors are actually bringing their "A" game. Here are 12 amazing performances that helped elevate superhero movies. »8/26/14 1:51pm 8/26/14 1:51pm

Plenty of science fiction and fantasy stories have angels and demons wandering around. Or minor deities, like Glory in Buffy. But a few stories dare to introduce THE God. The Judeo-Christian Supreme Being. Here are the absolute wildest stories where God makes an appearance. »8/08/14 12:00pm 8/08/14 12:00pm